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The man accused of killing international student Aya Masarwe has briefly returned to court.

Codey Herrmann, 20, didn’t say anything in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday, his second appearance since being charged with rape and murder over the January 16 attack.

Herrmann made no application for bail during the brief hearing, during which the prosecutor withdrew an application for a compulsory procedure, likely a DNA sample.

He also requested specific details of the attack on the Palestinian Arab of Israeli citizenship be withheld until police have been able to give them to the 21-year-old’s family.

“The informant wishes to have that dealt with in a sensitive manner before it’s given to the media,” he said.

Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt approved the move.

Vigil organisers speak to sunrise about the importance of the gatherings organised to remember murdered student Aiia Maasarwe

Vigil organisers speak to sunrise about the importance of the gatherings organised to remember murdered student Aiia Maasarwe

“It would be very confronting for the family to be made aware of those specifics through media reports,” he said.

Ms Masarwe’s body was found near the Polaris shopping centre at Bundoora last Wednesday morning, a short distance from where she got off the 86 tram.

She was returning from an evening in the city.

Herrmann’s lawyer Guillaume Bailin did not make any submissions or note any custody management issues.

Mr Klestadt however noted Herrmann was an Aboriginal person and “may be vulnerable because of your age and appearance”.

It’s Herrmann’s first time in custody.

Police have been granted 12 weeks to compile their brief of evidence.

Herrmann will reappear in court by video link for a committal mention on June 7.

Camera IconThe site where the body of Aya Masarwe was found is surrounded by mourners and flowers in Bundoora, Melbourne, Friday, January 18, 2019. Police arrested a 20-year-old man this afternoon over the murder of Aiia Maasarwe in Melbourne on Tuesday night. (AAP Image/Stefan Postles)Picture: AAP